Iran’s CAO to Facilitate Airplane Purchases, Official Says

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) Ali Abedzadeh highlighted the country’s need for at least 500 civil airplanes and said the CAO is trying to facilitate importing such aircraft.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Abedzadeh said the number of planes in Iran’s civilian air fleet is not sufficient and therefore, flights cannot be operated to all cities of the country.

He also said that some airlines have voiced intention for buying airplanes and the CAO is working to facilitate importing the aircraft.

The aviation official went on to say that given Iran’s huge market, the country needs 500 new airplanes.

The re-imposed US sanctions have hit Iran's aircraft industry alongside other important sectors. ATR, a French-Italian manufacturer, delivered five new commercial aircraft to Iran in August before the start of the sanctions. Boeing and its European rival Airbus have lost billions of dollars in aircraft deals with Iranian airlines due to the embargoes.